Eytys: Making Wild Wearable

Thick-soled, retro-inspired footwear has been back in full force for multiple seasons now, and nobody is more deserving of a ‘thank you’ for that resurgence than Max Schiller.

Schiller’s Stockholm-based Eytys have been bringing a little retrofuturistic flair to timeless favourites ever since he gave the prototypical canvas low-top an overhaul in 2013. Schiller and his Swedish cohorts haven’t looked back since, going on to amplify that OG design’s exaggerated proportions in the years that have followed, and taking on everything from 90s-inspired trail runners to boat shoes and derbys.

From the trusted Mother design to the over-the-top Halo, this season’s Eytys offerings are a perfect example of the signature chunky aesthetic that the brand has perfected over the past six years.

Get the full scoop on five Eytys favourites below and shop them all now via SneakerHub.

Mother

For Eytys, it all starts with the Mother – the brand’s very first silhouette from way back in 2013. The Mother is, frankly, the matriarch of all canvas low-tops. Schiller and company put their own spin on the timeless classic by reimagining the prototypical design with a number of modern day touches. The addition of pull tabs makes the shoe far easier to slip on and off, while cork insoles with arch support – which have become an Eytys staple – ensure all-day comfort atop the 38mm sole unit. The design even includes lightly padded tongues. These days the Mother has been further elevated with silky suede construction and waxed cotton laces, thus making it a luxurious yet accessible go-to.

Doja S-O

Those looking to double-down on the Mother’s ever-so-slightly exaggerated proportions need look no further than the Doja S-O. A futuristic take on the court-ready low-tops of old, the Doja pairs minimalist two-piece upper construction with a laces- and tongue-covering eyestay, while also boasting the same cork insoles and arch support as the Mother, and an elevated 4cm vulcanised rubber sole. The S-O version of the design expertly transforms the original Doja into a slip-on by ditching the laces and adding an elastic gusset to the mix.

Alexis

Derbys have been popular for over one-and-a-half centuries, and with good reason: the no-frills design is a perfect example of form-meets-function, thanks to its smooth leather upper, incorporated eyestay, and simplistic sole unit. Leave it to Eytys, though, to freshen up the classic sporting footwear with a little punk-inspired edge. While the sleek upper remains largely unchanged, and even rocks an almond-shaped toe, the Alexis is highlighted by a massive rubber sole that couples an exaggerated welt and cleated tread with a 3.5cm platform and 5.5cm heel. Elsewhere, pull tabs and memory foam insoles – coupled with the textured pattern that stretches around the sole – create a silhouette that’s one-part derby, one-part sneaker.

Angel

The hiking boot–like trail shoes of the 1990s get the Eytys treatment in the form of the Angel. While the smooth upper follows the trail laid out by the shoe’s inspiration source, the sole takes off in the other direction and doesn’t look back. The result is a unique juxtaposition that’s both retro and current, adding other classic design cues like heavy duty metal grommets, lengthy rope laces, and heavily padded collars. Monochromatic upper executions further shine a spotlight on the scene-stealing tooling.